Manifold for medical waste collection device
A manifold for connection to a waste collection vacuum device. The manifold includes suction port tubes and a vacuum port that define interconnected fluid communication pathways such that no walls define proximal and distal ends of the manifold. Tabs are coupled to at least one of the interconnected fluid communication pathways. The tabs interface with keyed surfaces of the waste collection vacuum device so as to facilitate positive location and mechanical fixation with the waste collection vacuum device. The manifold may include a body, and a flow director may be disposed within the body. A filter element may also be disposed within the body and include a distal section having a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of a proximal section. Each of the distal and proximal sections may define apertures configured to trap liquid, semi-solid, or solid waste within the fluid path.
1 . A manifold for connection to a waste collection vacuum device, said manifold comprising:
a body comprising a distal wall defining a vacuum port configured to be removably coupled with the waste collection vacuum device, and a suction port assembly in communication with said vacuum port to define a fluid path through said body, wherein said suction port assembly defines a proximal end of said manifold and is configured to be coupled with one or more suction tubes, and
a filter element disposed within said body and comprising a distal wall and at least one sidewall extending from said distal wall to define a basket, wherein said basket comprises a proximal section defining an opening of said basket, a distal section having a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of said proximal section, and a tapered section between said proximal and distal sections, wherein said tapered section tapers radially inward from said proximal section to said distal section,
wherein said sidewall of each of said proximal section and said distal section of said basket defines apertures configured to trap liquid, semi-solid, or solid waste within said fluid path, and wherein a most proximal at least one of said apertures is larger to define at least one overflow aperture,
wherein said at least one overflow aperture is located on one side of the basket and wherein, with said basket disposed within said body, said basket is oriented within said body such that said at least one overflow aperture is oriented upwardly within said body, and
wherein said opening of said basket is oriented towards said suction port assembly such that incoming medical waste enters an interior of the basket through said opening.
2 . The manifold of claim 1 , wherein said at least one overflow aperture is positioned adjacent to a top of said body so as to provide non-occludable overflow fluid paths.
3 . The manifold of claim 1 , wherein said distal wall defines additional apertures configured to trap liquid, semi-solid, or solid waste within said fluid path.
4 . The manifold of claim 1 , wherein said tapered section is devoid of apertures.
5 . A manifold for connection to a waste collection vacuum device, said manifold comprising:
a body comprising a distal wall defining a vacuum port configured to be removably coupled with the waste collection vacuum device, and a suction port assembly in communication with said vacuum port to define a fluid path through said body, wherein said suction port assembly defines a proximal end of said manifold and is configured to be coupled with one or more suction tubes, and
a filter element disposed within said body and comprising a distal wall and at least one sidewall extending from said distal wall to define a basket, wherein said basket comprises a proximal section, and a distal section having a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of said proximal section,
wherein said sidewall of each of said proximal section and said distal section of said basket defines apertures configured to trap liquid, semi-solid, or solid waste within said fluid path, and wherein a most proximal at least one of said apertures is larger to define at least one overflow aperture, and
wherein said at least one overflow aperture is located on one side of the basket and wherein, with said basket disposed within said body, said basket is oriented within said body such that said at least one overflow aperture is oriented upwardly within said body.
6 . The manifold of claim 5 , wherein said at least one overflow aperture is two overflow apertures.
7 . A manifold for connection to a waste collection vacuum device, said manifold comprising:
a body comprising a distal wall defining a vacuum port configured to be removably coupled with the waste collection vacuum device, and a suction port assembly in communication with said vacuum port to define a fluid path through said body, wherein said suction port assembly defines a proximal end of said manifold and is configured to be coupled with one or more suction tubes, and
a filter element disposed within said body and comprising a distal wall and at least one sidewall extending from said distal wall about a longitudinal axis to define a basket, wherein said basket comprises a proximal section defining an opening of said basket, a distal section, an intermediate section between said proximal and distal sections along the longitudinal axis,
wherein said sidewall of each of said proximal section and said distal section of said basket defines apertures configured to trap liquid, semi-solid, or solid waste within said fluid path, wherein said intermediate section is devoid of said apertures, and wherein a most proximal at least one of said apertures is larger to define at least one overflow aperture, and
wherein said at least one overflow aperture is located on one side of the basket and wherein, with said basket disposed within said body, said basket is oriented within said body such that said at least one overflow aperture is oriented upwardly within said body, and
wherein said opening of said basket is oriented towards said suction port assembly such that incoming medical waste enters an interior of the basket through said opening.
8 . The manifold of claim 7 , wherein said distal section has a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of said proximal section and less than a cross-sectional area of said intermediate section.